Goading the Pen

   I'm back in beautiful Greenville, South Carolina for a series of school visits this week. In downtown Greenville, they have adorable little mouse statues around the downtown. When I was in Greenville in March, I bought a replica to bring home with me, and now he sits on my living room windowsill.

Here he is with the South Carolina Picture Book Award medal for Hot Rod Hamster.

Last night was the PEN New England 2013 Discovery Award Night, at which Anna Boll and I received the 2013 Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award.

I was nervous--as nervous as I was two years ago when I made my stand-up debut. It helped that we got lost on our way to the auditorium, and I mean that in all sincerity. Having to look for missing street signs (Boston suburbs are apparently notorious) and listen as Bianca (all our GPS voices are known as Bianca) "recalculated," kept me focused on the moment rather than what lay ahead.

We arrived in time (barely), and met those of the selection committee who could attend: Kim Ablon Whitney, Lisa Jahn-Clough, Liza Ketchum, and Mitali Perkins. (Susan P. Bloom, Pat Lowery Collins, Susan Goodman, Robie Harris, and Leslie Sills were the other committee members.) Mitali was the only member of the committee I knew at all, but everyone made us feel so welcome and at home that I relaxed immediately.

Liza Ketchum introduced me, and that was a particular honor, because Liza has a home in Vermont and knows this state and therefore something about my story's setting. It was also an honor because both Liza and Lisa taught at VCFA with Norma Fox Mazer, in whose honor I received an award in January. All these connections make me feel as if my story is supported by a web.

I read, and I have to say, it was so gratifying to be able to make eye contact with people I knew: Anna. My fellow Magic Ifs, Jim Hill and Jenn Barnes. VCFA faculty member Sarah Ellis, who happened to be in Boston that weekend and was there on her birthday! And my husband Greg. It was good to hear people laugh when I hoped they would, too.

The other gratifying thing about reading--and the reason I'd like to add my voice to those who call for reading aloud--is that when it works--as it did last night--I feel like I'm channeling the character. The vocal chords may be mine, but the voice is not. When the character takes over, the feeling is glorious.

And then I was done and could sit down and relax while Mitali introduced Anna. It was a delight listening to Anna read. I realized I had heard the very first pages at this March's Novel Writing Retreat, when they had left me wanting to know more. Last night, I got to hear that more, but that, in turn, only made me want more still. I can't wait until this book is published!

I knew that the Discovery Award had been around for a while, but I didn't realize until last night that this was the 15th year. Nor did I realize how many people who received this award have gone on to have their winning title published. That list includes Sara Pinto, current committee member Kim Ablon Whitney, Janet Ruth Young, Jo Knowles, M.P. Barker, Erin Dionne (bostonerin), Ammi-Joan Paquette, Jame Richards, and last year's co-winner and current VCFA student Helen Demetrios.

After our reading, the audience had some excellent questions about our process, research, and our reading. What was fascinating to me was where those things overlap and where they diverge. One thing that Anna and I turn out to have in common--at least for these works--is reading widely. I don't think either of us can imagine doing otherwise. One place where we diverge--Anna is spinning many more plates than I. She also writes curricula for books and does things like mini triathlons. I don't know how she has time for it all!

These are called the Discovery Awards and I am so grateful to be discovered. I, too, have also made a discovery: it is worth taking a creative risk. I went into this project, Three Minutes Thirty, feeling not like I was going out on a limb, but like I was stepping onto a high wire, weak in the knees and trembling. There was a lot of breath-holding and wobbling and uncertainty, because I didn't know if what I was trying would work. If it didn't, I was going to fall a long way and I didn't know what I would do if I did. But it was the only way I could see that might possibly work and I had a couple of people I could trust cheering me on. So I crept slowly on.

Take the creative risk--that was my discovery. But, in the process, I was reminded of something I discovered in the book before this: You've got to believe--in your story, in yourself, in what Tim Wynne-Jones has called "your inner genius," that bit of you that puts things in the story for you to find when you need them.

I still have this on my computer to remind me:

And no, I'm not talking about the many poems written by William Shakespeare. I'm talking about my own YA poetry collection, which I am now calling The Lady Doth Protest, and which has taken a few years to get right. Turns out, though, that it's not quite done, and that the poem I had to close the collection has to go. Which means I have to write (yet) another poem for Miranda, from The Tempest.

All the other poems are written in formal poetry, but I think I'm going to embrace Miranda's sentiment about it being a "brave new world" and break ranks for this one.

Quoth Miranda in The Tempest, Act V, scene 1:

O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world
That has such people in 't!

(And yes, that is where Aldous Huxley ganked the title for one of his most famous works.)

Here's hoping this will be the ending that lets this collection spread its wings and fly. (There's a bit more detail about it in my "next big thing" blog post from a couple months back, if you're interested.)

Eeep! It’s now less than one month ’til STAR CURSED comes out! June 18! I can’t wait for you all to read it!!!!

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Originally published at Jessica Shea Spotswood. You can comment here or there.

For those of you who happened to Google your title and ended up here, please know that one star is not a bad thing in Robin's world -- just the fact that I picked up your book and started it means that somewhere it's getting good buzz (or that your blurb was really cool). 'R' means it's a re-read. Brackets mean it's an ARC (linked to Tattered Cover's book page) or e-galley.

If you'd like to see my recent four-plus- and five-star YA recommendations, visit Robin ReadsnWrites.

* I didn't make it beyond the first 20 pages.
** I made it to the end, but I either skimmed or skipped large sections.
*** I might have skipped/skimmed, but I liked it and might read it again.
**** I read at least 95% of the book and it was good -- probably will be reread.
***** I read every word, and I loved it! A favorite and definite reread.





[The Testing, by Joelle Charbonneau ***** I loved this! I read it feverishly (one day), and I loved every single detail. I can't wait for the next one, which is tough, considering this one hasn't even come out yet (beginning of June). I thought the world building was solid, I enjoyed the characters, I liked the mystery surrounding their government -- everything piqued my interest, to be honest. I have my suspicions about how certain aspects of the story arc will develop and ultimately turn out (ie, the romantic portions), and I'm certainly interested in finding out if I'm right. :) I tend to like different kinds of details than many readers, so I'm also curious to find out (once the book comes out) how many people like the testing aspects. I actually wouldn't have minded even more details -- but I really enjoyed the pacing overall, as well. It was simply good, good, good -- just what I look for in a book: exciting, tense, romantic, intriguing. The story: Cia has been chosen for the Testing, the government's way of deciding who gets to attend University to further the country's growth. Cia's tiny town has had no candidates for years, even though Cia knows for a fact that her older brother should have been chosen based on his gifts. But then, right before she leaves, Cia's father (who was a Testing candidate himself) reveals some horrifying secrets about the Testing process...and Cia realizes that maybe being chosen isn't the positive thing she always thought. She has no choice but to comply, however, and when she arrives at the Testing site, she learns right away that her dad may have been correct -- and that her Testing is less about passing at the top of the class and more about actually surviving. As she goes through the various trials, Cia's goals change, and soon she's simply hoping she can get through it all with her mind and body (and life) intact. (YA dystopic suspense, releases 6/13, publisher: Houghton Mifflin)]

[Spirit, by Brigid Kemmerer ***** I loved this too. I've loved all of the Elemental books, though each one is sooooo angsty! Kemmerer has a real gift in her ability to tap into the teenage angst and those feelings of unworthiness and drama. Each book makes me ache for the main characters. This book is about Hunter, the Fifth who'd originally hoped to get Becca on his side (her story meshes with Chris's in Storm). I like Hunter; I like his compassion and his struggle. I definitely feel for him, as he watches his own family seem to turn their backs on him. The disconnect between his own outward behavior and his inner struggle is very realistic, as well, I think. This book is sadder than the first two, as Hunter experiences some true tragedy in his quest to figure out his own abilities as a Fifth and how that meshes with the Elementals and the Guides in this world. However, I like the ending, and I think it's true for Hunter's story (and perhaps opens the door for another secondary character to find some peace too). At the end of the version I read (an e-galley), there's a peek into Nick's story (which I hope is next) -- and wow, that looks amazing! The story: Hunter believes his father, a Guide, wanted him to find and destroy the Elementals. But now that his father is dead and his mother's grief seems to have pulled her from Hunter's side, Hunter has to rely on his own insight...and his gut is telling him to befriend the Merricks, not to destroy them. Plus, the first girl who ever showed friendship to him -- Becca -- clearly trusts the Merricks, as well. Then Hunter discovers another Fifth, a girl named Kate, who appears to also be after the Merricks, and Hunter has to decide between his gut and his memory of his father's dedication -- not to mention his own supposed purpose as a Fifth. It doesn't help that he's attracted to Kate, and despite her apparent passion in wanting to destroy the Elementals, she also seems attracted to Hunter. But Hunter's own inability to trust anyone quickly gets in the way of his instinct, and soon, he feels abandoned by everyone and must find his way all on his own, with nothing but his own unreliable memories of his dad to guide him. (YA paranormal, releases 5/13, publisher: K-Teen)]

The Lucy Variations, by Sara Zarr *** This was interesting. I'm not as much of a Zarr fan as some people (she has a pretty strong following, and I know that anyone who's liked her previous books will enjoy this one), but I do appreciate most of her books. This one intrigued me because of its topic -- concert pianists. I (obviously) was never on the concert pianist path, but as someone who did major in piano in college, I have a slight awareness of what that life entails. I think Zarr's book hit many things spot on, and it was an interesting look into that world. The main reason I didn't read it thoroughly is because I realized early one what was happening, and I kind of lost interest. That's no fault of the writing, I don't think -- it's just that I've heard enough about these types of things (from people who truly had been on the concert pianist path) that I didn't need to read it. The story: Lucy watches as her younger brother Gus takes on a new piano teacher. Lucy no longer plays, but she finds herself tempted a bit as she see Gus's enthusiasm increase under Will's tutelage. And Will seems interested in Lucy too, and that interest sparks something in Lucy. She begins playing again, and before she knows it, she finds herself back in that place where she's torn between the demands of the music world, the demands of her talent, and her desires and hopes for her own life. (YA contemporary, released 5/13, publisher: Little, Brown)

Currently Reading: The Originals, by Cat Patrick

On Deck: Still a huge pile...exciting and daunting all at once ;)

FERAL NIGHTS by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Werecat Yoshi, Werepossum Clyde, and human Aimee set out to find Yoshi's sister after Clyde's best friend is killed, and in the process they learn of a greater plot to kidnap the were-species and must work together to all come out alive. This spin-off of the TANTALIZE series is witty and full of great characters. The plot and world make the reader believe that other species walk among us and that it would be fun to get to know them. An adventurous YA. (Candlewick, 2013)

This year I am very excited to be a presenter at the Simmons College Children's Literature Summer Institute. There are some AMAZING authors speaking this year, so I am incredibly honored to be included (and even more incredibly intimidated).

Here is a link to learn more: http://www.simmons.edu/institutes/childrens-lit/

I've attended many times and it is an inspiring weekend, with presenters all giving lectures on a similar theme. This year's theme is "Love Letters." Here's the institute description:

“Some letters may take the whole of our lifetime to write”
-Thích Nhãt Hanh

In many ways, “Love Letters” demands that we contemplate romance in literature for children and young adults.

Although love and heartbreak might be the territories of the young adult novel, we find passion in picturebooks, revel in the devotions of early readers, and explore emotional depths in middle grade books. Nonfiction marries both knowledge and narrative.

Institute speakers will consider how books themselves act as letters. How do they declare love for a subject or to an audience? How does a lifetime inform every book written? Every book read?

Doesn't that sound wonderful? I know my journey has included many, many love letters from books that have surprised me, moved me, informed me, and helped me become the person I am. I am thrilled and grateful to be part of this conversation.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Monday Morning Warm-Up:

Describe how a book of your heart has served as a love letter that felt like it was just for you.

Originally published at Kimberly Sabatini. You can comment here or there.

Not too long ago, my husband mentioned that a friend and colleague, Kevin Dalvi, had written and directed a movie and we were invited to the red carpet premier in NYC. Of course, there is nothing about this that doesn’t sound interesting to me. I love movies, red carpets and supporting underdog artists trying to put their vision out in to the world. I am so glad I went to see PROMISE LAND, a NEQUA Studios Production, because I really, really connected with the movie and it’s artists. Here’s a little bit about PROMISE LAND…

PROMISE LAND is relevant, heart wrenching, funny and hopeful. I know my sphere of influence is very limited, but I would really like to do something to help this film get the attention it deserves. So, there will be a contest!!!!!!

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And here are some pics from the PROMISE LAND Premier…

If you get the chance to see PROMISED LAND on it’s Summer Tour, I highly encourage it. It was a wonderful movie!!!! A list of summer screening dates and information on how to buy tickets is available HERE. Information on how to turn your blog post comment into contest entries is available above with rafflecopter. Thanks so much for spreading the word. It really means a lot to me. Kevin Dalvi may not realize it, but he has all the makings of one of John Green’s Nerdfighters! *fist pump*

THE 5TH WAVE by Rick Yancey
After millions of humans are killed in the first through fourth waves of the alien attacks, Cassie is torn away from her brother but once she learns the truth of who the aliens are, she sets out to rescue him and runs into Evan and Ben, two guys who may help -- or hinder -- her cause. This alien invasion story has the feel of THE HOST meets THE WALKING DEAD. It is dark, gritty, and has characters struggling to survive and understand what is happening to their planet. The multiple povs work well, and this YA has guy and girl appeal. (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2013)

I knew all along that the Doctor Who season finale's title, "The Name of the Doctor," was a tease. The only reason the Doctor's name is interesting is because it's unknown. If we ever found out that it was George or Fred or Rumplestiltskin or whatever, there would be no more reason to care. But don't worry. There were plenty of other things in this episode to enjoy and discuss.

( As River Song always says...Collapse )

So that's it until November. Fortunately, the next Doctor Who season has already been announced, and Matt Smith has said he'll be back, making him only the third actor to do a fourth season as the Doctor (officially, David Tennant's year of specials was considered an extension of his third season). It'll be a long wait, but Doctor Who fans are used to waiting. At least we know there's something to be waiting for.